Money In Ancient China
By: Amber
Earliest forms of currency in China were made of shell, animal hide, jade or satin. Somewhere between 1000 and 400 BC metal currency was developed

*Knife Money
  • Oldest form of hard currency in China
  • 7 inches in length
  • Hold in middle of blade and hand-carved inscriptions
Coin, China
Coin, China

*Spade-Shaped Money
  • Role of agriculture was eventually brought into play during Warring States Peroid (400BC)
  • Issued by Emperor Wang Mang
  • Greater seal scrpit was introduced in reign of Emperor Xuanwang (827-782BC) of Western Zhou Dynasty
Old Chinese spade charm
Old Chinese spade charm

*Half-liang
  • Qin Emperor Shihuang created system
  • Knife and Spade coibns were replaced with Emperor's Half-liang
  • Half-liang weighs 25 grams
  • Was round with square hold in the middle
  • Nickname was "Square Hole Brother"
Gold coins, ancient Chinese coins
Gold coins, ancient Chinese coins

*Zhi Coin
  • Coins are round with square hole in the middle
  • Had title of Emperor's reign on them
Feng Huo coins were circulated in the Later Zhao Kingdom
Feng Huo coins were circulated in the Later Zhao Kingdom

*Paper Currency
  • 1st bank notes appeared in China
  • 1455 paper money dissappeared for several hundred years

*Wu Shu (5 unit) Coinexternal image yuanpapermoney.jpg
  • Introduced during reign of the Emperor Wudi in 118BC
  • Inscription introduced during reign of Qin Emperor Shihuang of Qin Dynasty
  • Hourglass shape character is early form of character for 5
Han Dynasty coin
Han Dynasty coin

http://www.2-clicks-coins.com/article/ancient-chinese-coins.html
http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_chinaway/2004-01/28/content_45669.htm
http://www.china-tour.cn/Chinese-Arts/Ancient-Chinese-Coins.htm
http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/LGweb/coins/1936_64_3.htm
http://primaltrek.com/spade.html
http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/models/chinahist/yuan.html